The survival of formula one's Overtaking Working Group (OWG) depends on the results of this year's sweeping bodywork rule changes.

The survival of formula one's Overtaking Working Group (OWG) depends on the results of this year's sweeping bodywork rule changes.

Headed by leading team technical boffins Paddy Lowe (McLaren), Pat Symonds (Renault) and Rory Byrne (Ferrari), the group extensively tested their ideas - whose questionable aesthetics have been slammed by many F1 fans - in two wind tunnels and were ultimately rubber-stamped by the FIA.

But FIA technical consultant Tony Purnell said recently he suspects the changes have in fact not achieved the desired downforce reduction of 50 per cent.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, FIA president Max Mosley now reveals that if Purnell's fears are realised, the FIA will not be amused.

"If the desired effect does not occur," the 68-year-old Briton warned, "then that will be the end of the expert group."

The OWG was commissioned the task of improving overtaking after Mosley's own proposal - the 'split rear wing' - was voted down by F1's team-comprised technical working group.